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Not a clue, other than normal eating. He ate a fair amount of bread, and pasta and pizza and such. Right before the massive outbreak in November, there was a peppermint/chocolate-drizzled popcorn that I got at Walmart, and it gave both of us horrible diarrhea, and within a few days he was covered with more rash than ever before. Might have been unrelated, but it's the only unusual thing that times out right for any causality. Otherwise, he wasn't eating anything different.
The first thing that I suspect started it was weedeating the yard a couple of years ago -- I'm seeing that wheat allergies correlate with grass allergies, because wheat is a grass and is related to lots of things. That one particular day, he started getting the rash and thought he must be allergic to a particular plant that we had noticed and hadn't ever had before, and it really never completely went away after that -- ebb and flow, but no remission, and then gradually getting worse and worse and spreading to other areas. So maybe that was the initial sensitization, and then the gluten continued it. Just a guess, though.

Well, TDZ, I certainly hope that your husband is able to get some Dapsone to quickly ameliorate his DH (and that it does not have too many adverse effects on him, either).
It sounds like your husband's DH is worse than mine ever was, so I can only imagine the ongoing agony that he's been dealing with. To call DH "just an itch" would be like calling am amputation "just a scratch", i.e., probably nobody who has not experienced it can imagine how frustrating, distracting, maddening and depressing it can really be.

Yeah, I think the only reason to bother with trying to get a diagnosis is if it's needed in order to get the Dapsone, which would be a lifesaver for him in stopping or helping the itching while he gets his diet more in order. He's had continuous rash and lesions and blisters over large to larger parts of his body for a couple of years, and the itching is driving him insane.
We do have an appointment with his PCP this afternoon, to try and talk him into trying the Dapsone -- seems it would tell the tale within a matter of days, so it couldn't hurt much to try, and it would hopefully be a godsend.

Alaskaguy,
Sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to put in my two cents.
I prefer the Autoimmune Protocol diet because it helps heal the gut so quickly. It's a bit more strict than the Fasano diet but the results are striking.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5647120/#!po=43.7500
People with Celiac and DH have a problem with leaky guts. The AIP diet helps heal this problem.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3934051
Nightshade vegetables are not allowed on the AIP diet because they contain glycoalkyloids that contribute to permeable guts.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12479649
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3386601/
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is also involved in celiac disease and DH. Mast Cells are triggered into releasing histamine when stuff gets through that leaky gut. That histamine is what aggravates DH.
https://www.celiac.com/blogs/entry/1931-mast-cell-activation-syndrome-madness/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2014/936545/
A Low Histamine Diet is also helpful because it helps the mast cells not to trigger.
https://www.histamineintolerance.org.uk/about/the-food-diary/the-food-list/
So, the Autoimmune Protocol diet crossed with the Low Histamine Diet may sound really strict, but you can see results within weeks and you won't need to stay on it forever. Once your symptoms disappear, you can start adding more options into your diet.
Make sure your vitamin levels are not deficient. (Get them checked before starting supplementation to get correct levels.) People with celiac disease and DH are often low in Vitamin D and B12. I'm a big fan of having vitamin D level above the usually accepted level of 30 ng/ml. 70ng/ml or above is better and allows vitamin D to work as it should. And nicotinamide (vitamin B3) helps mast cells not to release histamine. The nine B vitamins all work together, so discuss with your doctor the benefits of taking a good B Complex supplement.
Hope this helps!
P.S. Himalayan salt may have less iodine than sea salt. Sea salt may contain plastic waste particles because of pollution in our oceans.

thanks very much Cyclinglady, these links are great! I take no drugs, but will need to take iron pills again. I will definitely take a good look at my supplements again. As you know they are highly processed no matter how "natural".
I am taking less supplements and eating really well, focusing on whole foods. I
Unfortunately, am feeling extremely anxious and down, so it is possible that it is making me dizzy.
I might start to get treatment for that, but want to hold off and try the natural route. It is just that it is becoming pretty unmanageable.
Thanks for your support and have a nice evening.